We can make a difference. This is big. I am taking part in Kidney March - a 3 day, 100 km journey from Kananaskis to Calgary. This is more than just a walk; I am joining with hundreds of others as a united front against kidney disease.

Why?

One of our relatives, Christina Douvis, was diagnosed with Focal
Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) over 5 years ago. One
year later, she started progressing towards kidney failure. She was then diagnosed with a rare secondary and often fatal disease called aHUS.
She then required emergency surgery for the placement of a
dialysis/plasmapheresis line in her neck. Eventually both of her kidneys were
removed and peritoneal
dialysis was needed at home daily and nightly for over 1
year.

On January 19, 2016, her mother gave Chrsitina one of her kidneys. Initially the surgery seemed successful.
However the next day things started to deteriorate to the point where the
transplant stopped working one week after the surgery. Through
the gift of prayer and the tremendous work of the doctors and nurses at the Alberta
Children’s Hospital and Foothills
Medical Centre, Christina’s kidney function started to slowly creep back
up. Over a year later, Christina is doing quite well even after battling and
overcoming a recent kidney & urinary tract infection last July. She
continues to be cared for by a tremendously great team of nephrologists, nurses
and pharmacists. They have helped her transition to a new routine of taking anti-rejection
medications to keep her “foreign kidney” working for as long
as possible. Christina’s new kidney has made her feel very well and she is
certainly happy to be off of dialysis!!

On September 8th, 9th and 10th, I am participating in Kidney March. It will be a challenge for me. But I am excited for it. After all a chronic illness so encompassing as kidney disease deserves a walk of this magnitude. I have been training in preparation of marching 100 km this upcoming weekend . This is where I need your help. My goal is to raise $100,000. Yes, you read correct, $100,000 . Please sponsor me in this very worthy cause.

In supporting me, you are supporting The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Funds raised by Kidney March help the Foundation carry out kidney disease prevention, lifesaving research, and organ donation initiatives. This much needed research will focus on a number of elements, including changes in care delivery, improvement of treatment therapies, and organ donation. This is why I need your help. By supporting me, you are a part of this unique opportunity to help change Kidney disease in Canada. There has never been a better time to support kidney research in Canada.

Thank you for taking up the torch on behalf of the millions affected or who are at risk. A kidney crisis is looming. The time to make a difference is now. Failure is not an option.